Youssou N'Dour named Senegal's culture minister

Senegalese music star and Grammy Award winner Youssou N'Dour has been appointed the nation's new tourism and culture minister in President Macky Sall's cabinet, the government announced Wednesday.

AFP - Senegalese superstar Youssou Ndour has been appointed the country's new tourism and culture minister in President Macky Sall's cabinet, according to a decree issued on Wednesday night.

The Grammy-award winning singer, a fierce critic of former leader Abdoulaye Wade, hung up his microphone to campaign for Sall and now forms part of a slimmed down government of 25 people appointed by Prime Minister Abdoul Mbaye.

Cutting down a bloated government was one of the campaign promises made by new leader Sall, 50, a former prime minister who took over the reins this week after a crushing poll victory over the unpopular incumbent.

One of Africa's most recognised artists, Ndour sent shockwaves through the music industry when he announced in January he was giving up performing to run for president amid rising tension over the incumbent's bid for a third term in office.

However shortly afterwards the country's constitutional council rejected his candidacy on the grounds that he had failed to provide enough valid signatures to back his application.

The same court ruling validated Wade's contentious candidacy, sparking deadly riots as anger grew over the 85-year old's plans to rule for another seven-year term.

Ndour jumped to the forefront of an opposition campaign to unseat him and was often seen at protests addressing the crowd, uncomfortably at first but as weeks went on he took on his new role with more ease.

He would often make an appearance in the chaotic streets as rocks and tear gas flew.

When Macky Sall emerged as the most likely candidate to beat Wade, and 12 failed candidates threw their weight behind him, Ndour too hit the campaign trail for the opposition candidate.

Sall won the election on March 25 with a crushing 66 percent of the vote, and when he entered the presidential palace as the nation's new leader on Monday Ndour was there as they watched Wade leave power.

Wade surprised the world by conceding defeat just hours after the polls closed and calling his former protege to congratulate him, a move that won him plaudits from around the globe.